Another one bites the dust: Glastonbury’s 50th anniversary canceled over coronavirus outbreak

Glastonbury Festival was due to celebrate its landmark 50th anniversary this June.

Another festival joins the coronavirus cancellation club. However, Glastonbury‘s cancellation is significant not only because the virus ruins its 50th-anniversary celebration, but also because it is the first summer festival to be forced to cancel. Originally slated for June 24-28, it shows the longevity of dealing with COVID-19’s fallout, which now threatens other June festivals like Electric Forest, Sonic Bloom, Bonnaroo, and more.

Only three days ago, it was business as usual for Glastonbury when organizers announced LA rapper Kendrick Lamar as the Friday night headliner. However, they did so in the hopes of the situation in the UK being improved by the end of June. Glastonbury organizers Michael and Emily Eavis called 2020 “an enforced fallow year” and explained that it was too risky to spend the next three months with thousands of crew on the farm to prepare for the massive festival.

“We were so looking forward to welcoming you all for our 50th anniversary with a lineup full of fantastic artists and performers that we were incredibly proud to have booked. Again, we’re so sorry that this decision has been made. It was not through choice,” they continued.

Ticket-holders will have the chance to either roll their £50 deposit over to Glastonbury 2021 or apply for a refund. Further information on coach packages, official accommodation bookings and other tickets will be added to the festival’s website in the next few days.

The cancellation will be a huge blow to the festival, with some estimating losses could be as high as £100m.

We are so sorry to announce this, but we are going to have to cancel Glastonbury 2020. Tickets for this year will roll over to next year. Full statement below and on our website. Michael & Emily pic.twitter.com/ox8kcQ0HoB

— Glastonbury Festival (@glastonbury) March 18, 2020